I just got a Para FAL built on a Coonan reciever.  The weapons cycles fine when firing save one problem.  I'm having trouble cocking from the start.  Sometimes the action will cycle fine when checking to see if the weapons clear.  But sometimes it seems if the carrier and the bolt are jammed and I have to use excessive force to get the breach open.  Its hit or miss. Any suggestion on how to make this uniformed so it cocks/locks back with having to man handle it?  

Essentially my problem is the bolt feels jammed closed.

I'm no expert so I am going to ask, how many rounds have you put through it? And are you noticing if the "jammed" state's frequency is decreasing is increasing with use(break in)?

I would check the rails on the left front of the receiver- where the cocking handle lives.
It is easy to pinch these rails while installing the barrel which will cause the cocking handle to bind at the beginning of its travel.

Are the recoil springs binding-up?

Negative on the recoil springs binding.  I'm 100 rounds or so in to the break in.  Do I need to break out the micrometer to measure the rails?

You don't need a micrometer, remove the bolt/carrier assembly and close the gun back up.
Cycle the charging handle back and forth multiple times. You want to determine if the rails have been squeezed at the front of the receiver, the charging handle assembly is damaged or the spring loaded bearing under the knob is kaput.